Review: Scosche MagicMount XL Dash/Window

We first reviewed Scosche’s MagicMount system about a year ago, and the MagicMount XL Dash/Window ($35) is a new mount in the MagicMount XL series — a more powerful magnetic mounting system made to handle larger iPhones and iPads. As indicated by its name, XL Dash/Window is designed to go on a dashboard or window for use in the car, though Scosche notes that using the mount on a desk is another option. XL Dash/Window is a slightly bendable gooseneck mount with a powerful magnet on one end and a suction cup with sticky material on the other. The mount comes with two magnetic plates, a smaller 1.1″ x 1.26″ plate for iPhones and a larger 2.75″ x 2.9″ plate for iPads. Refer to our MagicMount review for the more basic details about the MagicMount system, as it all still applies here.

As with the standard MagicMount system, the magnetic plates can be placed directly on the back of a device or case using 3M adhesive. Another option is to place a magnet between the device and the case. Some trial-and-error will be required to figure out the best magnetic setup for your particular device/case combination. As was the case with the original system, MagicMount XL can easily handle smaller iPhones, and due to the more powerful magnets here, it works just as well on an iPhone 6 Plus.

Mounting an iPad can be a bit trickier, but again, experimentation with the setup should enable users to find the right solution. Putting the magnet between an iPad Air and a case likely won’t work in most situations, so the better option is to either put the magnetic plate directly on the iPad or directly on the iPad’s case. We generally don’t recommend sticking a powerful magnetic plate on the back of the iPad — for the mount to properly hold the weight of an iPad Air 2, for instance, the adhesive must be applied firmly, so the powerful magnet doesn’t simply pull the plate off the device upon removal. If it’s on the back of an iPad, you might have more than a little trouble removing it.

While using MagicMount XL to mount an iPhone — including an iPhone 6 Plus — is generally simple, using the mount with an iPad might require more patience, simply due to the size of the device. You likely won’t want to move the strong suction cup too often, if at all. It will remain secured to a dash, desk, or window with proper installation. We’d urge users to really think about their setup before using MagicMount XL.

But once you’ve got that figured out, you’ll likely be very satisfied with MagicMount XL. The magnets are certainly powerful enough to quickly and securely hold an iPad, though, and the system retains the ease of use found in the original MagicMount system. And again, the price is more than reasonable. While many users will be fine with the original MagicMount accessories, MagicMount XL still earns our high recommendation.